Lake Sabine, Texas

Fishing & Travel Destination

Ninety minutes east of downtown Houston and on the eastern limits of Port Arthur the border dividing Texas and Louisiana bisects Sabine Lake, one of the best-kept secrets in the sport fishing world.  This is Texas’ easternmost estuary, co-owned and regulated by Texas and Louisiana.  Sabine Lake and the surrounding coastal fishing areas encompass over 100 square miles of some of the most productive marine ecosystems in either state.  Surrounded by majestic forests of Spanish Oak and Cypress trees, and fed by ever-changing tides from the Neches and Sabine Rivers and the Gulf of Mexico, Sabine Lake and its tributaries of marshland and bayous provide natural beauty and great sport fishing for both the Texas and Louisiana shorelines.

There are Catfish in the lower Sabine River; Channels up to five pounds, along with some impressive Blues and Flatheads.  But that’s not why you come to these parts.  Save the Cats for later; it’s Trout that you want, and Redfish - big ones!  Known for outrageous numbers of big Speckled Trout (lake record is 11 pounds, 12 ounces), Sabine Lake and its surrounding waters have more to offer, as savvy local guides and charters will be happy to prove.  Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials have noted this area to also have the state’s largest Redfish and Flounder populations.  Constantly provided nourishment from spawning fish, shrimp, and crabs in the marshes on the Louisiana side, all of these species are here year-round; but some months and locations are better than others.  Sabine Lake is connected to the Gulf by Sabine Pass – still relatively, and happily, undeveloped.  The Neches and Sabine Rivers drain into the northern portion of the lake, feeding this system with nutrients and freshwater flows.  This keeps the marshes on the eastern bank filled with shrimp, crabs, and small fish.  Towards the southern end and the jetties at Texas Bayou larger game fish are attracted from the Gulf, providing excellent options for offshore fishing.  Local charters and guides are available to take you to the right spots where you can fish, and catch, to your heart’s content.

A popular strategy for finding schooling Speckled Trout and Redfish is to look for the birds flocking above, also feeding on the frantic baitfish.  As you get closer the big boys will be apparent in great numbers, boiling the surface waters as they snack.  Another key is to find an incoming tide over some sort of shell reef, which the Trout love.  During May, the shorelines are crowded with mullet and the trophy-sized Trout that feed on them.  In fact, the largest Trout show up in the spring season (February through May) along with good-sized Flounder.  In the summer (June through August) the Trout get a bit smaller but more numerous, along with Redfish; while Flounder are still around.  For Trout and Redfish, it pays to drift-fish in one to four feet of water, over flats and mud bottoms.  Redfish will hug the shoreline, preferring one to two feet of shallower water.  Jetties are favorite areas when it’s windy, with the fish choosing a calmer side with clearer water. 

Green water is the secret along the shores; more current brings more fish and baitfish into calmer waters.  The rocky structures also draw predators in from the Gulf, like Sharks, Tarpon, giant Jack Crevalle, Bull Reds, Cobia and King Mackerel on the channel side; while Sea Trout and Drum can be found feeding along the shallow surf sides.  September is the best time to catch these Jack Crevalle and spawning Bull Reds.  In the late fall (September through December) the Sabine waters really come alive.  Flounder migrate out of the bayous and exit through the main lake passes, while Speckles and Reds school in outrageous numbers, chasing migrating shrimp, crabs, and baitfish.  Even Drums and Sheephead come out to the jetties frequently to chase a lure or plentiful bait.  Offshore trips bring good numbers of Red Snapper up to 15 pounds, Tripletail, Kingfish, Ling, and Tuna.  These trips go out at least ten, sometimes as far as 40 miles; and hookups with Amberjack, Mahi Mahi, Dorado, and Sharks are not uncommon.

Sabine Lake is only 19 miles long, with the average depth only six feet.  This is one of the smaller bays in Texas, but that certainly doesn’t lessen the fishing impact.  These waters are teeming with trophies all year long, and it doesn’t take an expert to figure things out.  It does, however, pay to have a knowledgeable guide or charter, to be certain of fishing the right spots without wasting a lot of time.  Sabine Lake still benefits by not being as popular as Galveston and some other lakes and bays in this region.  It’s not too often you have to worry about crowds, as in other places; and this is always a good thing – especially when you’re trying to hook up.